He rocked his hips, his cock shifting inside me until I was on the verge of asking him to start all over again. Hell, I was going to be sore, and I didn’t care.

“I couldn’t reach you. What if you’d been trapped in there? I will not have you place yourself in danger.”

“I was fine.” I lifted my head and kissed his shoulder, nipping at him just a little. His hips jerked in response, so I did it again. “If it weren’t for that stupid rubber duck box blocking me, I would have made it to another room and left a boot for you.” I lifted my leg as much as I could to make my booted foot visible from the corner of his eye. “But I’m glad I didn’t. Boots have excellent traction.”

With a chuckle, he rolled to the side and pulled me with him. His hard length slipped free, and I sighed at the loss. I loved the feel of him inside me. I felt like we were one, like I really belonged. Like I mattered to him.

“I have never used autopilot on a ship. Not once.”

“What if the flight is really long? Don’t you need to sleep?”

“I can go several days without sleep before I become compromised. Generally, it does not take that long to get where I need to go.”

“Several days?” I rested my head on his shoulder, content when his arm settled behind me, holding me against him.

“Yes.”

He held me. He was big. Warm. Safe.

I never wanted to move again.

8

Cormac

Fuck me. I’d been so distracted by my mate—and my out-of-control instinct to claim her—that I’d ignored her statement.

If it weren’t for that stupid rubber duck box blocking me, I would have made it to another room…

I yanked my uniform back on as quickly as I could manage while being distracted watching my clean, naked mate put on the fresh set of clothing I’d generated for her after our shower. I’d been obsessed with bathing her, couldn’t tolerate the smell of Blade on her skin. I’d washed her with my own hands, fucked her slowly in the shower, generated some food and delighted in watching her consume something called lasagna like it was the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. I tried a bite but did not care for the acidic taste of the red paste.

I’d pounded down several nutrition bars and some fluid designed for my Hyperion system and then stared at her as she moved food to her mouth. Chewed. I’d watched the flow of her neck muscles as she swallowed and allowed my gaze to wander down to her curved breasts. Watching a naked female eat was one of the most erotic things I’d ever seen. My fangs had dropped. I wanted to bite her again. And again.